Mahindra prevail over Vasco

Mumbai challengers Mahindra United scored once in each half to down Vasco, Goa, 2-0 in a second round National Football League encounter at the Cooperage ground in Mumbai on Monday.

It was the first victory for the star-studded Mumbai outfit following a goalless draw against ITI, Bangalore, in their opening match of the league.

Vasco suffered their first defeat from two matches, having drawn 1-1 with HAL, Bangalore, in their first match.

Nigerian forwards Austin Akolo and Bala Usman, who missed the match against ITI due to late clearance of their International Transfer Certificate, stole the limelight with an impressive showing.

Usman gave indications of his goal-poaching skills as early as the fifth minute when he sent the ball just over off an S Venkatesh cross.

Akolo too showed his scoring abilities when he found the mark with an opportunistic piece of work in the tenth minute. Off a rebound off Vasco's Brazilian goalkeeper Rogerio Ramos, following defender M Suresh's long pass, he was quick to tap home.

Ramos, who collided with Akolo while trying to stop the ball continued gamely before being replaced by substitute Saji Joy soon after half-time.

Ten minutes later Vasco had a gilt-edged chance to draw level but striker Marcos Pereira's lob went abegging with their foreign recruit and winger Rio Wanderlei failing to boot home.

Another chance came for the Goa side in the 25th minute but Wanderlei failed to make good a cross from mid-fielder Bhola Dey.

Just before half time Mahindra had a chance to increase the tally but mid-fielder Jules Albert Dias headed just over from an Akolo cross.

Leading by a goal at the breather, Mahindra continued to call the shots. They mounted pressure on the Vasco goal and struck again in the 54th minute when Bala Usman made no mistake while finding the net from a loss pass from Venkatesh.

In the 75th minute substitute Agnelo Gomes could have pulled one back for Vasco but with hit wide from close.

Mahindras paid a price for rough play and four of their players -- Khalid Jamil, Tapan Ghosh, Usman and Musa Eroje-- were shown the yellow card.

Photographs: Jewella C Miranda

National Football League summary